Adaptor for use with a valve fitment for dispensing fluids

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to an adaptor that is used with a valve fitment assembly used to dispense fluids or flowable materials from a container. The adaptor is utilized in conjunction with the valve fitment assembly to allow the fitment assembly to be used with a spout and valve assembly attached to a container holding fluid. This invention also relates to a process for dispensing fluid using the adapter described herein.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to an adaptor that is used with a valve fitmentassembly used to dispense fluids or flowable materials from a container.The adaptor is utilized in conjunction with the valve fitment assemblyto allow the fitment assembly to be used with a spout and valve assemblyattached to a container holding fluid.

BACKGROUND

For example, a valve fitment assembly may be used to dispense liquidfrom a collapsible bag or container. However, this fitment assembly canonly be used in conjunction with a certain design of spout and valveassembly that is attached to the container. Containers having adifferent spout and valve assembly design cannot be used with this valvefitment assembly.

The adaptor of this invention allows for the use of such a valve fitmentto be used with other spout and valve assemblies attached to a fluidcontainer.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

This invention relates to an optionally L-shaped adaptor used in afitment valve assemble comprising:

(I) a vertical cylindrical housing, and

(II) a horizontal cylindrical channel;

wherein said vertical cylindrical housing and said horizontalcylindrical channel are connected to each other in an L-shape;

wherein said vertical cylindrical housing comprises a front wall, and ispartially open at the back wall, wherein said opening is the locus forconnecting a spout-valve assembly attached to a container that dispensesfluid;

wherein, optionally, said front wall, on the inside, comprises a lockinggroove for locking said adaptor to said spout-valve assembly;

wherein, optionally, said vertical cylindrical housing comprises twooptionally J-shaped pull-tabs attached to the two sides of said frontwall, such that said vertical cylindrical housing's side walls protrudeover the base of said J-shaped pull-tabs;

wherein, optionally, attached to the opening at the back wall of saidvertical cylindrical housing is an optionally U-shaped tray thatsupports said spout-valve assembly attached to the fluid dispensingcontainer;

wherein said horizontal cylindrical channel comprises at least a firstopening and a second opening;

wherein said first opening is at the first end proximate to the joint ofsaid optionally L-shaped adaptor, and at the top of said horizontalcylindrical channel such that said first opening opens at the bottom ofsaid vertical cylindrical housing;

wherein said second opening, used for dispensing fluid into a fluiddispensing setup, is at the opposite end to said first end of saidhorizontal cylindrical channel;

wherein at the base of the horizontal cylindrical channel directly belowsaid first opening in said horizontal cylindrical channel is anoptionally cylindrical activator pin;

wherein, optionally, said activator pin is supported by at least oneridge, that is optionally triangular;

wherein at the top of said first opening proximate to the bottom of saidvertical cylindrical housing is optionally an O-ring for sealingattachment with said spout-valve assembly;

wherein said O-ring is situated in optionally a second verticalcylindrical channel that is narrower that said vertical cylindricalhousing; wherein, optionally, on the outside wall of said horizontalcylindrical channel, oriented generally transversely to the longitudinalaxis of said second horizontal cylindrical channel and protrudingoutward, are locking tabs, one on each side of said horizontalcylindrical channel, that are used for locking the locking mechanism ofsaid fluid dispensing setup with said adaptor;

wherein optionally, said horizontal cylindrical channel furthercomprises a third opening at its second end that is in optionally in aradial plane to the longitudinal axis of said horizontal channel;

wherein optionally said third opening is closed with a cap.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the adaptor from the front and side;

FIG. 2 is the perspective view of the adaptor from the back and side;

FIG. 3 is the perspective view of the adaptor from the top;

FIG. 4 is a line diagram of the side view of the spout and valveassembly of the adaptor connected to a fluid container;

FIG. 4 A is a line diagram of the side view of the adaptor, cap, and thespout-valve assembly;

FIG. 5 is a line diagram of the adaptor attached to the dispensing setupbut without the locking mechanism in locked position;

FIG. 6 is a line diagram of the adaptor and dispensing mechanism nowconnected to the spout-valve setup in an open position such that fluidis dispensed; and

FIG. 7 is the perspective view from the bottom.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Ranges are used herein in shorthand, so as to avoid having to list anddescribe each and every value within the range. Any appropriate valuewithin the range can be selected as the upper value, lower value, or theterminus of the range.

As used herein, the singular form of a word includes the plural, andvice versa, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, thereferences “a”, “an”, and “the” are generally inclusive of the pluralsof the respective terms. For example, reference to “a method” includes aplurality of such “methods”. Likewise the terms “include”, “including”and “or” should all be construed to be inclusive, unless such aconstruction is clearly prohibited from the context. Similarly, the term“examples,” particularly when followed by a listing of terms, is merelyexemplary and illustrative and should not be deemed to he exclusive orcomprehensive.

The term “comprising” is intended to include embodiments encompassed bythe terms “consisting essentially of” and “consisting of”. Similarly,the term “consisting essentially of” is intended to include embodimentsencompassed by the term “consisting of”.

The methods and compositions and other advances disclosed herein are notlimited to particular equipment or processes described herein because,as the skilled artisan will appreciate, they may vary. Further, theterminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only, and is not intended to, and does not, limit the scopeof that which is disclosed or claimed.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms, terms ofart, and acronyms used herein have the meanings commonly understood byone of ordinary skill in the art in the field(s) of the invention, or inthe field(s) where the term is used. Although any compositions, methods,articles of manufacture, or other means or materials similar orequivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice of thepresent invention, the preferred compositions, methods, articles ofmanufacture, or other means or materials are described herein.

All patents, patent applications, publications, technical and/orscholarly articles, and other references cited or referred to herein arein their entirety incorporated herein by reference to the extent allowedby law. The discussion of those references is intended merely tosummarize the assertions made therein. No admission is made that anysuch patents, patent applications, publications or references, or anyportion thereof, are relevant, material, or prior art. The right tochallenge the accuracy and pertinence of any assertion of such patents,patent applications, publications, and other references as relevant,material, or prior art is specifically reserved.

As used herein, the term “flowable material” does not include gaseousmaterials, but encompasses materials which are flowable under gravity ormay be pumped. Such materials include liquids, for example, milk, water,fruit juice, oil; emulsions, for example, ice cream mix, soft margarine;pastes, for example, meat pastes, peanut butter; preserves, for example,jams, pie fillings, marmalade; jellies; doughs; ground meat, forexample, sausage meat; powders, for example, gelatin powders,detergents; granular solids, for example, nuts, sugar; and likematerials. The invention described herein is particularly useful forflowable foods such as milk,

A perspective view from the top, a perspective view from the front and aperspective view from the back are shown for the adaptor of the presentinvention in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The adaptor (100)comprises of a vertical housing (1), preferably cylindrical, and ahorizontal channel (2), also preferably cylindrical, generally formingan L-shape. The vertical housing (1), which forms the vertical leg ofthe L-shape is partially open to the outside (7), while the horizontalchannel (2) is closed, with at least two openings, first opening (3)connecting to the vertical housing (1) and the second opening (4) at theopposite end, which connects to a dispensing setup (see below and FIG.5), and optionally, a third opening (5), which, if present, can beclosed off with a cap (6) (see FIG. 7).

In one embodiment, the L-shaped adaptor (100) is a single piece ofplastic. The vertical housing is generally cylindrical (1), with anopening on its back side (7), that is, the vertical cylindrical housing(1) is only partially complete. As a matter of fact, in one embodiment,the back side (7) of the vertical housing (1) is open such that onlyabout two-thirds of the cylinder is closed, and which displays acut-away section.

The open portion (7) of the vertical cylindrical housing (1) on it backside is used to connect the L-shaped adaptor (100) to a spout-and-valveassembly attached to a fluid container (30) (see FIG. 4 & FIG. 4A).Attached to the near top of the vertical cylindrical housing (1) oneither side of the open cylinder (18), on the outside of the cylinder(18), are two, optionally-J-shaped, pull tabs (9), that are used todetach the adaptor (100) from the spout-and-valve assembly (8) attachedto the fluid container. The partial cylindrical portion (10) thatextends above the J-shaped pull tabs (9) are designed dimensionally suchthat attachment of the adaptor (100) to the spout-and valve assembly (8)of the fluid container helps activate the spout and valve to open thefluid container and initiating the flow of fluid out of the container.

When the adaptor (100) is attached to the spout-and-valve assembly, thepartial vertical cylindrical housing (10) extending beyond the J-shapedpull tabs (9) activates at least one, and preferably two optionallyhorizontal wings (11) attached to the spout-and-valve assembly (8), bymoving them vertically upward. This vertically upward movement opens thevalve within the spout-and-valve assembly (8) thereby rendering the flowmovement out to the horizontal cylindrical channel. The activation isalso aided by the seal activator pin (12) described below. The verticalcylindrical housing wall (13) proximate to the horizontal channel (2) ofthe L-shaped adaptor (100) extends as high as the top portion of theJ-shaped pull tabs (9), and in some instances, even higher. In theextended portion of the cylindrical wall, at the top, on the inside, andin between the J-shaped pull tabs (9) is a locking groove (14) or anindentation channel that goes within the depth of the verticalcylindrical housing's (1) extended portion, The locking groove (14)locks the adaptor (100) to the top ridge (15) of the spout-and-valveassembly (8) attached to the fluid container. When the adaptor (100) islocked with the spout-and-valve assembly (8), the spout-and-valveassembly (8) fit snugly within the partially open vertical cylindricalhousing (1). A bottom tray (16) attached to the bottom portion of theopen vertical cylindrical housing (1) helps in snugly fitting thespout-and-valve assembly (8) to the adaptor (100). The preferablyU-shaped bottom tray (16) with two vertical walls (17) is attached (inthe embodiment that is a monolithic adaptor) to the partial cylindricalwall (29) of the vertical housing (1) and forms the protrusion beyondthe partial cylindrical wall (29) and appears in a U-shape when viewedin the back view of the adaptor (100).

The vertical cylindrical housing (1), in a preferred embodiment, cantaper (19) into a second cylindrical section (18) located at the joint(20) of the two legs of the L-shaped adaptor (a preferred embodiment isa monolithic structure without a joint). The second cylindrical section(18), which is smaller than the vertical cylindrical housing (1) indiameter, houses a snugly fit O-ring (21) or other device that alsohelps secure the adaptor (100) to the spout-and-valve-fitment on thedispensing container. The O-ring (21) provides the seal between thehorizontal cylindrical channel (2) of the L-shaped adaptor (100) and thespout of the valve-and-spout assembly, such that, when the valve isopened as a result of the activator (12) action, the fluid flows out thehorizontal cylindrical channel (2) and down for dispensation.

At the bottom, and on the inside of the first end of the horizontalcylindrical channel, that is, inside the joint (20) of the L-shapedadaptor, is provided an optional cylindrical shaped pin also known asseal activator pin (12), which acts as an activator to commence fluiddispensation. The force of action of attachment of the adaptor (100) tothe spout-and-valve assembly (8) pushes the pin (12) upwards, into thespout, and activates the spout by opening the seal inside the spout.This activation is in conjunction with the lifting of the two horizontalwings (11) on the spout-and-valve assembly (8), which also aid inactivation and fluid flow as the wings (11) are internally mechanicallyattached to facilitate the opening of the seal. The cylindrical pin (12)located at the bottom of the horizontal cylinder's (2) first end isoptionally supported by ridges, that in preferred embodiments are one ormore triangular vertical ridges (3) attached to the cylindrical pin. Theridges (30), triangular or otherwise, help against the bending of thecylindrical pin (12) upon exertion of pressure on the pin (12) foractivation purposes.

The second end of the horizontal cylindrical channel (2) is open.However, it can be closed with a snug fitting cap. The cap can also bethreadably or otherwise attached into the opening. On top of thehorizontal cylindrical channel (2) are found two locking tabs (22) orlugs oriented transversely to the longitudinal direction of thehorizontal cylindrical channel (2). These tabs act as anchors for thelocking mechanism (24) used to connect the fitment assembly on to thedispensing setup (23) (see FIGS. 5 and 6) such as a preferably flexiblepipe (26) that takes away the dispensed fluid. The locking mechanism isattached to the fitment assembly, which is now connected to the pipe fortaking away the fluid. The locking mechanism has angular U-shapedgrooves (27) that would connect on similar tabs on the originalspout-and-valve assembly on the container, but instead, now connect andlock with the adaptor (100). In other words, the adaptor (100) acts asan in-between sleeve—on its one end, it has adequate design thatconnects with the spout-and-valve-assembly (8), and on the other end, ithas design features that help connect with the dispensing system. Theadaptor is generally locked in with the dispensing system, and not thespout and valve fitment assembly. The adaptor-dispensing system assemblyis jointly connected with the spout and valve assembly as and whenneeded. Stated another way, once the dispensation of the fluid iscompleted, the adaptor is left attached to the dispensing mechanism, andnot the spout and valve assembly because once the adaptor (or theadaptor-dispensing mechanism assembly) is attached to the spout valvesystem, the overall assembly would in an open position with the fluidflowing into the dispensing system.

This invention also relates to a process for dispensing fluid from afluid container using the parts and their functioning described above.

Abbreviations

-   1 vertical cylindrical housing-   2 horizontal channel-   3 first opening in horizontal channel-   4 second opening in horizontal channel-   5 third opening in horizontal channel-   6 cap-   7 opening on backside of the vertical housing or cut-away section-   8 spout and valve assembly connected to fluid container-   9 J-shaped pull tabs-   10 partial cylindrical portion that extends above the J-shaped pull    tabs-   11 horizontal wings-   12 seal activator pin-   13 vertical cylindrical housing wall proximate to the horizontal leg    of the L-shaped adaptor-   14 locking groove-   15 top ridge of the spout and valve assembly-   16 bottom tray-   17 vertical walls of the U-shaped bottom tray-   18 second cylindrical section-   19 vertical cylindrical housing tapered into a second cylindrical    section-   20 joint of L-shaped-   21 O-ring-   22 locking tabs-   23 dispensing setup-   24 locking mechanism-   25 locked position (open channel for fluid flow) of the dispensing    setup and the adaptor-   26 flexible pipe-   27 angular U-shaped groove of the locking mechanism-   29 partial cylindrical wall-   100 L-shaped adaptor

The invention claimed is:
 1. An L shaped adaptor used in a fitment valveassemble comprising: (I) a vertical cylindrical housing, and (II) ahorizontal cylindrical channel; wherein said vertical cylindricalhousing and said horizontal cylindrical channel are connected to eachother in an L-shape; wherein said vertical cylindrical housing comprisesa front wall, and is partially open at the back wall, wherein saidopening is the locus for connecting a spout-valve assembly attached to acontainer that dispenses fluid; wherein, said front wall, on the inside,comprises a locking groove for locking said adaptor to said spout-valveassembly; wherein, said vertical cylindrical housing comprises twoJ-shaped pull-tabs attached to the two sides of said front wall, suchthat said vertical cylindrical housing's side walls protrude over thebase of said J-shaped pull-tabs; wherein, attached to the opening at theback wall of said vertical cylindrical housing is an U-shaped tray thatsupports said spout-valve assembly attached to the fluid dispensingcontainer; wherein said horizontal cylindrical channel comprises atleast a first opening and a second opening; wherein said first openingis at the first end proximate to the joint of said L-shaped adaptor, andat the top of said horizontal cylindrical channel such that said firstopening opens at the bottom of said vertical cylindrical housing;wherein said second opening, used for dispensing fluid into a fluiddispensing setup, is at the opposite end to said first end of saidhorizontal cylindrical channel; wherein at the base of the horizontalcylindrical channel directly below said first opening in said horizontalcylindrical channel is a cylindrical activator pin; wherein, saidactivator pin is supported by at least one ridge, that is triangular;wherein at the top of said first opening proximate to the bottom of saidvertical cylindrical housing is an O-ring for sealing attachment withsaid spout-valve assembly; wherein said O-ring is situated in a secondvertical cylindrical channel that is narrower that said verticalcylindrical housing; wherein on the outside wall of said horizontalcylindrical channel, oriented generally transversely to the longitudinalaxis of said second horizontal cylindrical channel and protrudingoutward, are locking tabs, one on each side of said horizontalcylindrical channel, that are used for locking the locking mechanism ofsaid fluid dispensing setup with said adaptor; wherein said horizontalcylindrical channel further comprises a third opening at its second endthat is in in a radial plane to the longitudinal axis of said horizontalchannel; wherein said third opening is closed with a cap.